Funeral set for paralyzed ex-high school football player

Staff report

Funeral arrangements have been made for Rasul "Rocky" Clark, who was paralyzed while playing football for Blue Island's Eisenhower High School in 2000 and later fought an unsuccessful battle to keep his health insurance.

Visitation will be Friday at AR Leak and Sons Funeral Home, 18400 South Pulaski Road in Country Club Hills, according to a website dedicated to him. The time is tentatively set for 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday at New Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3620 W. 139th St. in Robbins. The website cautioned the location may change to a larger venue. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. at Burr Oak Cemetery, 4400 W. 127th St. in Alsip.

Clark, who died at 27, was a 16-year-old backup running back on Sept. 15, 2000, when Eisenhower's starting running back separated his shoulder in a game at Oak Forest High School. Clark went into the game. Four plays later, he was tackled and suffered two broken vertebrae in his neck and a spinal injury.

Left a quadriplegic, Clark for 10 years received top-notch health care through the catastrophic medical insurance provided by Community High School District 218. That included nurses in his home around the clock, access to pain medicines and prescriptions and a storeroom of supplies.

But in August 2010, Clark was informed the $5 million health insurance had reached its maximum and would no longer cover his medical needs. Officials with Clark's insurance agency, Health Special Risk Inc., previously declined to discuss his case or their policies on claims and lifetime maximums with the Tribune.

At the time his policy ended, Clark said he felt he was being punished for living too long. Many quadriplegics die within 10 years after their injury because of lung or kidney failure. But Clark was able to thrive, in part because of the meticulous health care he received, his physician and family members said.

After losing coverage, Clark relied on Medicaid, some state support and his mother, Annette, who did her best to perform the work formerly handled by three nurses.

The loss of coverage also meant Clark could no longer afford to have helpers take him to his former school to give pep talks or volunteer as a coach. He had hoped to enroll in college art classes but could not pay for them after the policy expired.